A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left.
Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.

Friday, May 02, 2008

Hastings gain

Mr Dale has just told me Labour has gained a seat off the LDs in Hastings. Hardly evidence of a southern wipeout.

Very dangerous for Labour at the moment but hopefully a punch in the face for Labour might knock some sense into it, the general election is still 2 years away and alot can happen in 2 years but it is looking grim :(

Two gains from the Lib Dems in Hastings- one, Castle, not far off an overall Labour majority in a previous Lib Dem stronghold. Main reason- the Labour candidate Paul Barlow worked his sock off for months.

We had no canvassing activity from any of the parties in our ward. The only posters and placards visible were Labour ones! Where were all the others? Asleep? Hastings seems like an interesting place re local politics. However. I guess the turn-out was pathetically small, which is shameful considering the work and suffering that people endured to become enfranchised. Please wake up, people.

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About Me

Labour Party activist since 1988 - firmly on the moderate wing of the party. Member of Labour’s NEC 2010-2012. National Secretary of Labour Students 1995-6. Parliamentary candidate for Aldershot (2001) and Castle Point (2005). Hackney Councillor (Chatham Ward) 2002-2014, Labour Group Chief Whip 2002-09, Chair of Health Scrutiny 2010-2014. Supporter of Europe, NATO/nuclear deterrence, Israel, electoral reform. Guardian reader. Dad. Oxford resident. Unite union member. Employment history as a Labour Party Organiser, Local Government Political Assistant, Director at a Public Affairs company. All views expressed in a personal capacity. The rest will become evident from reading the blog.